Punk Panther Christmas Cracker
A December loop out of Otley over Norwood Edge and the Washburn.
| Distance | Ascent | Per km |
|---|---|---|
| 32 Mile | 1,257 m | 25 m |
| 19 Mile | 797 m | 26 m |
| 12 Mile | 510 m | 27 m |
Nobody has reviewed this one yet
No reviews of the Christmas Cracker, and nothing on what people wore. Both are things no organiser publishes and every runner wants before they enter — how it actually went, and what was on your feet.
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Pick your distance
HARD
TRP grade · E3·T3
1 checkpoint
Start time not confirmed yet — check with the organiser.
This file is from a previous running and the course may have changed since. If you are navigating with it, get the current version from Punk Panther first.
What you’re in for
Punk Panther's end-of-year run, two weeks before Christmas, with prizes for fancy dress if you fancy it. It leaves Otley for Lindley and the Washburn Valley and climbs to Norwood Edge, where the 12 Mile turns for home. The 19 goes on past Fewston and through Timble; the 32 carries on to Langbar and up towards Beamsley Beacon, where on a clear December morning the Dales are laid out in front of you before the long run back to Otley. The 12 Mile is 19.1km with 510m of climb — a proper hilly half. The 19 Mile is 30.7km and 797m, and the 32 Mile is 51.0km with 1,257m, a real winter ultra with a 19:30 course close and a head torch you will need before the end.
Terrain and trail
Field paths and lanes out of Otley, reservoir track along the Washburn, then open moor between Timble and Beamsley Beacon and back over Norwood Edge. The moor is the slow part: peat, tussock and standing water in December, and the paths are faint where the heather has been burnt. Taped and flagged the week before as confirmation of the route, not a substitute for the map. Expect ice on the lanes and the reservoir paths in a cold snap, and short daylight — the 32 Mile finishes in the dark for most of the field.
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Aid stations
A selection at every checkpoint — water, coke, Fanta, energy bars, snacks and crisps — with vegan options throughout. Three checkpoints: Norwood Edge, Timble Crossing and Langbar. Norwood Edge is on all three distances, Timble Crossing on the 19 and 32, Langbar on the 32 only.
Cut-offs
No overall time limit is published. The cut-offs are the checkpoint closing times — arrive after one closes and you are retired. Course closes 19:30. Checkpoints close: Norwood Edge 12:00, Timble Crossing 12:00, Langbar 13:00.
Train for it: routes near the start
Routes starting within 20 km of Otley, West Yorkshire, nearest first. Each one has a free GPX file and a TRP grade, so you can rehearse the ground before race day.
VERY HARD
HARD
MODERATE
EASY
MODERATEMandatory kit
- A proper bag to carry it all in — Their words: not a carrier bag
- Waterproof jacket with taped seams
- Enough fluid to reach the next checkpoint
- A cup — There are none at the checkpoints
- Energy bar or other food
- Survival bag — A bag, not a sheet
- Whistle
- Mobile phone, switched on, with the race director and medic numbers saved
- Tracker — Supplied by the organiser for ultra distances, worn at all times
- Hat or buff
- Gloves
- Personal first aid kit
- Printed map and route description — Sent by the organiser before the race
- Head torch
Kit for this race
Picked against the list above. Check the organiser's final instructions before you buy anything.
Mandatory: Personal first aid kit
Lifesystems Light & Dry Micro First Aid Kit
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How to enter
Sat, 12 Dec 2026 · Entries open
Enter via SiEntries ↗Entries are handled by SiEntries, not by us. We take nothing for sending you there.
Add to your calendar · as an all-day entry, until the start time is confirmed
Common questions
- The Christmas Cracker offers 3 distances: 12 Mile (19.3 km), 19 Mile (30.6 km), 32 Mile (51.5 km).